DANBURY -- Cold night and thick ice have brought snowmobiles to Lake Kenosia.
They shouldn't be there.
Reginia Ofiero, chairman of the Lake Kenosia Commission, has asked Police Chief Alan Baker to post signs on the entry points to the lake warning people to not drive snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles on the ice.
Orfiero said winter often brings snowmobiles and ATVs to the lake on the city's west side. This year there have been more complaints than usual.
"It's problematic,'' she said.
For snowmobile riders, the weather's been a boon, allowing them ice thick enough to fly around the area's lakes.
"They've been out there,'' said Larry Marsicano, executive director of the Candlewood Lake Authority. "Not just snowmobiles, but things like motorcycles -- anything with wheels."
Marsicano said he's heard the ice on Candlewood is about 6 inches thick now -- enough to support roaring vehicles and their riders.
The situation at Lake Kenosia is different. It's a much smaller lake in a very residential area. The vehicles' noise bothers shore dwellers, Ofiero said -- especially at night when the vehicles buzz around the lake.
But the vehicles are also forbidden, because Lake Kenosia is a secondary reservoir for the city, and state law prohibits the use of any motorized vehicle on bodies of water used for drinking.
Mayor Mark Boughton said that Kenosia has many small springs feeding into it. That makes the ice less stable.
"We have more people going through the ice there than in other places,'' he said.
"It's a liability,'' Ofiero said. Not only does a snowmobile falling through the ice endanger the lives of the riders, it also pollutes the lake, which the city can and has used for drinking water.
In her letter to Baker, Ofiero said members of the Lake Kenosia community have complained in the past about snowmobiles on the lake, to no avail.
"Since many citizens do not realize that Lake Kenosia is a reservoir, it is understandable why there should be confusion,'' she said.
However, Ofiero said Jack Kozuchowski, who works as a consultant to the commission on environmental issues, has spoken to David Day, the city's superintendent of public utilities.
Day, she said, has ruled that all motorized vehicles -- including boats, snowmobiles and ATVs -- are banned from the lake.
"We are working to discourage it,'' Boughton said.
Baker said city police did respond to one complaint at the lake about snowmobiles, only to find the vehicle gone from the scene by the time they arrived.
Asked if police could post signs on the lake, saying the use of snowmobiles and ATVs is prohibited, Baker said that's a possibility.
"If they think that would help, we could certainly post signs,'' he said.
I fished there on Saturday and couldn't believe the amount of tracks and there was an oval track area worn down, they must have been there for hours some day prior. One was operating over by the south side where all the homes are but stayed in one small area. Boats are allowed with electric motors only as it is a secondary resevoir. Didn't catch but a few small bass, very slow. The ATV's and snowmobiles also forced the city to place jersey barriers across the Danbury boat ramp at Candlewood. The only thing it accomplished was to keep the ice fishermen from parking on the exposed shore at the beach. Was nice for older and the slightly disabled fisherpeople to access the ice easily and safely. The atv's don't even slow down for these stupid barriers. Ridiculous!!!
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